Vanessa Paradis Opens Up About Johnny Depp in Harper's Bazaar (Video)

The celebrated French actress-singer, aligned with Chanel since 1991, is still the face of the house's Coco Cocoon bag and Rouge Coco lipstick.

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August 13, 2012

by

Elizabeth Snead

Vanessa Paradis, freshly split from Johnny Depp, opens up about life, love and work in the September issue of Harper's Bazaar.

While the interview was conducted just days before the announcement of her breakup with Depp, her words resonate strongly about their relationship.

"Love is the strongest and most fragile thing we have in life," says Paradis, 39. "Nothing is ever for sure, but when something in love doesn't work from the beginning, it's never going to work. Don't push it."

She adds: "When you meet the love of your life, it's just obvious and natural and easier. You keep learning all the time. Sometimes you could be in an unhappy relationship; you are very much in love with someone, but it's making you unhappy and you think things can change and you can work it out."

The gap-toothed beauty became a national sensation in 1987 at 14 for her hit song Joe le Taxi. Paradis became a teen pop star but later switched to acting and won a César (the French Oscar) at age 17 for the romantic film, Noce Blanche. One of her most famous roles was in the romance The Girl on the Bridge.

She recalls of her early career days: “I was for sure not prepared for fame when it happened," Paradis recalls of her precipitous rise. "But nobody pushed me to do it. I wanted to sing, to dance, to work."

But she doesn't plan on having any plastic surgery. “I don't work in America, so I don't feel the pressure." And forget fixing her tooth gap, which the French call "lucky teeth." "Why would I fix them? I was born with them. I can spit water through them. They're useful!"

On the kind of men she's attracted to, she admits, "Well, my type is obviously creative with burning eyes and a pretty mouth." Obviously.

Paradis remains as powerful a style icon as Depp’s previous girlfriend, British model Kate Moss. One of the longest Chanel brand ambassadors, she's now the face of the Coco Cocoon handbag and Rouge Coco lipstick.

She recently was awarded the Swann d'Honneur at the Cabourge Romantic Film Festival in France, and has finished several films including Dubai Flamingo, Je Me Suis Fait Tout Petit and Courouaille.

And she still performs as a singer. Just last year, she held a packed concert in LA at the Orpheum Theatre.